1 SOME SOPHISTICATED SLANDER LUKE 11:28-54 The attack on Jesus - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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SOME SOPHISTICATED SLANDER LUKE 11:28-54 The attack on Jesus begins, that unfortunately, continues to this day! 1. First, we see public slander—the hardness of the people of Israel. Luke 11:29-36  The court of public opinion was in session!  The majority was wrong that day—and is often wrong today— so Jesus gives them three pictures; they wanted proof and proof they would receive.  That proof came directly from the Word; not a new sign, but rather the WORD they had already received! 2

THREE PROOFS FROM THE WORD  First: There was the case of ONE VERY CONVICTED PROPHET — Jonah. You want a sign, you got it! Jonah Chapter 2  Second: There was the sign of ONE CONSCIENTIOUS RULER — “the queen of the South,” also known as the Queen of Sheba. • WORD: This Gentile woman has more wisdom than you really religious guys.  Third: There was the sign of the CONVERTED SINNERS — the grace of God reached the wretched, sinful people of Nineveh. 3

THEY GOT A SERMON INSTEAD OF A SIGN Having categorically refused to give the Jews a sign, Jesus gave them a sermon instead. Luke 11:33-36 Jesus began with an illustration: The simple lamp.  They were willingly walking in darkness.  Religion itself had blinded them to the truth.  Religious tradition had bound them to fruitless works. What they needed was not a miraculous sign; they simply needed to walk in the Light as He was in the light. 1 John 1:7 4

THE SLANDER OF RELIGION 2. Slander in private—the hypocrisy of religious Israel. Luke 11:37-52 a. An unspoken criticism of His manners. v. 37-38  The Lord deliberately refused to wash His hands as a way of “washing His hands” of a religion that spent itself interminably on trivialities and external rites. b. An outspoken criticism of their motivations. v. 39-52  The woes upon the formal traditionalists. v. 39-44 • Tithing, they thought, would make up for their other failures.  The woes upon the false teachers. Luke 11:45-52 5

THEY WERE LIVING TOMBS v. 47-52 Gilded tombs, indeed! Just another nail in their own coffins.  They were actually “murderers of the prophets” in the name of religious tradition. God detests religious traditions that snuff out the light and promote works-based righteousness  …rather than God’s saving grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. THE FINAL APPROACH  Total warfare on their part. Luke 11:53-54 The trap was being set, but all they would catch would be foot-in-mouth, really sophisticated slander. 6